Enemies of Power

A Kind Heart Part 2

"Do you care if I go get her?" Patton asked. After Anx nodded Patton walked out of the room, leaving Logan alone with him. Logan sat on the bed and looked at the boy.

"It's okay to be scared. It's natural human reaction to be scared of things. And having anxiety is manageable," Logan slightly smiled. "I don't like meeting new people either."

"You don't? But you're with him," Logan knew who he was talking about. The teacher chuckled. "And he seems like such a social person."

"Yeah, but he helped me and we can help you." Before the boy could respond Patton walked in with a little girl following behind.

"It's so dark," She whispered. Patton nodded.

"He likes it like that," He told her.

"Why?" Logan watched Anx looked down.

"You can...uh...brighten it a little...if you want to," He looked embarrassed about it being so dark. She nodded and walked towards the window. After opening the curtains she walked back to Patton, who was now standing next to the bed.

"You're different than what the other children say," The girl told Anx. "Patton was right." The girl smiled. The boy looked slightly frightened.

"You have a kind heart," She continued. Patton saw the boy relax a little.

"You...you said that?" He turned towards the bubbly figure.

"Well, it's true," Patton countered.

"No it's not," Anx mumbled. The girl looked sad.

"Why not?" Logan asked.

"I...I hurt people," The boy told them. "I...made them afraid of me. I didn't try...but... they were..." The room started getting darker.

"Breathe," Patton interrupted. "Deep breath in." The boy tried to do what was instructed. "And deep breath out," Patton continued. The shadows slowly went away.

"What was that?" The girl asked.

"I think it's time for you to go out," Logan told her. "We want to talk to him some more." She nodded and waved at Anx before walking out the door.

"I'm...I'm sorry," He humbled after the door was shut.

"There's nothing to be sorry about." Patton said.

"Yes there is. I could've hurt you," Anx countered.

"But did you?" Patton asked him. The boy shook his head. "Well, that's all that matter."

"But my...uh...abilities. Sometimes they get out of control," Anx remarked. He started picking at the blanket again.

"You can learn to control them," Logan told the boy.

"So you don't think I'm a monster?" The child asked.

"You could never be a monster," Came Patton's reply.

"Virgil," The boy blurted.

"What?" Patton and Logan asked simultaneously.

"My name is....Virgil," He said softer. He waited to see the reaction of the couple.
"Virgil?" Logan looked at his husband.

"I love it!" Patton exclaimed. Virgil slightly smiled.

"You do?" He asked. Both of the adults nodded. "But please don't tell anyone." He pleaded.

"You can tell people when you are ready to," Patton told him. Virgil sighed and quietly thanked him.

"Virgil?" The boy looked at Logan. "Can I ask you a question?" The teacher looked at Patton. Patton nodded smiling. Logan smiled back and looked at Virgil.

"Uh...sure?" The said boy played with the blanket again.

"Would you like to be adopted?" Logan asked him. Virgil's eyes went wide.

"You...you want to...adopt me?" He asked the couple. They nodded smiling at him.

"But only if you want to come home with us," Patton added. "Don't feel pressured to if you don't want to."

"Can...can I think about it?" Virgil asked hesitantly.

"Take your time," Patton responded.

"I think it's about time to get going Patton," Logan stated. Patton nodded.

"We'll be back to visit you soon kiddo," Patton waved. They both walked out the door.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Guessing by how long you were in his room then it went better than last time," Maria said once they walked in to say their goodbyes.

"Yes, it went exceptionally well," Logan told her. She smiled.

"It's nice to see people who want to get to know him. Most everyone ignores him, even the children."

"Well, we are looking into adopting him," Patton told her. Her smile faltered slightly.

"We left the decision up to him, so he can decide," Logan explained.

"And what if he says no?" Maria asked.

"We've picked another child if he decides not to, though I'm hoping he'll agree," The teacher remarked. Maria nodded.

"I'll see you soon then?" The couple nodded. They walked out of Maria's office and towards the front door. Logan held the door for Patton, who thanked him.

"Wait!" Logan was about to close the door. Some of the children that were around stared at the child. "I...I uh...decided," Virgil stammered.

"You have?" Patton asked. The boy nodded.

"I...uh...I want to go with you," He whispered. Logan has never seen Patton's smile so big.

"We can do the paperwork right now then," Patton exclaimed. Maria had come out at hearing the boy shout and some of the children started whispering to each other.

"Anx!" A little girl came up to him. Some of the older children had fear on their faces.

"Hi," Virgil said shyly.

"Maria, can we do the paperwork right now?" Logan asked her. She nodded and led them back into her office.

"V-Anx, you can wait out here or with us," Patton said. Virgil followed behind Patton.

"Okay, just sign these papers. Here," Maria showed them where to sign and handed them a pen. Virgil rocked back and forth on his feet, growing anxious the longer it took for the papers to get signed.

"Done," Patton announced and he handed them over for Logan to sign.

"I'm happy for you Anx," Maria told the boy. He looked at her and barely nodded. "These are good people and you deserve a good home."

"Finished," Logan handed the papers back to Maria who took them. She smiled.

"You are all set. Just pack what he has and you are free to take him home." She told them.